Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

N. A. B. Expects Record Attendance at Detroit By PHILIP G. LOUCKS Managing Director, National Association of Broadcasters President Hoover Heads List of Prominent Speakers; Important Trade Problems Will be Considered PRESIDENT WALTER J. DAM MS MESSAGE: "BROADCASTING in the United States today stands in grave jeopardy. Politically powerful and efficiently organized groups, actuated by selfishness and with a mania for power, are now busily at work plotting the complete destruction of the industry we have pioneered and developed. These groups give no thought to the efforts and the moneys which we have expended nor the services which we have rendered the American public in the development of the greatest broadcasting system in the world. They speak of our business as if it could be cut down and destroyed by the mere wave of a wand or legislative fiat. To protect the present system of broadcasting is a definite obligation which we as broadcasters owe to ourselves and to the millions of the public whom we serve. And adequate protection can be achieved only through efficient organization. In other words, American broadcasting today is given its choice between organization or destruction." ^^^^ks casters a* + ?etroit, on October 26, 27 and 28. Some of the topics are to be discussed by prominent speakers associated with the broad _ casting industry. Broadcasters from every state in the union will attend the convention, and indications are that attendance will break all— previous records. Members and non-members alike are invited to participate in the discussions. Non-memvers, however, will not be admitted to the business sessions nor will they be permitted to vote in the elections or upon the numerous resolutions which will be considered. The convention will be opened on Sunday, October 25, with a golf tournament at the Tarn O'Shanter Golf Club, the winner of which will be awarded the N. A. B. golf trophy. A meeting of the board of directors will be held Sunday night, and numerous committee meetings are scheduled for Sunday afternoon and evening and Monday morning. President Hoover will address the meeting from the White House studio at the opening session of the Convention which will begin promptly at Monday noon. The President's address will feature a half-hour broadcast which will be carried to the American public over the networks of the National Broadcasting Company and the Columbia Broadcasting System. In addition to the President's speech, Mayor Frank Murphy, of Detroit, Maj. Gen. Charles McK. Saltzman, chairman of the Federal Radio Commission, and President Walter J. Damm, of the association will speak in the half -hour program. LIST OF SPEAKERS AMONG the speakers who will be heard during the three-day convention are Senator Wallace H. White, Jr., of Maine; General Saltzman, John Benson, president of the American Association of Advertising Agencies; Levering Tyson, director of the National Advisory Committee on Radio in Education; Bond Geddes, executive vice president of the Radio Manufacturers Association; Clyde P. Steen, director of the American Radio Association; Henry A. Bellows, chairman of the N. A. B. Legislative Committee; H. K. Carpenter, chairman of the N. A. B. Commercial Committee; and John V. L. Hogan, chairman of the N. A. B. Engineering Committee. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 10:00 A. M. N. A. B. Golf Tournament Tarn O'Shanter Club 1:00 P. M. Registration opens 7:30 P. M. Meeting, Board of Directors MONDAY, OCTOBER 26 10:00 A. M. Committee Meetings 12:00 P. M. Convention opens. (Program to be broadcast over networks of N.B.C. and C.B.S.) Band selection Call to order by President Damm Address of Welcome by Mayor Murphy of Detroit Response by William S. Hedges Address by President of the United States by special wire from the White House Address by Maj. Gen. Charles McK. Saltzman, Chairman, Federal Radio Commission Address by President Damm Band selection 12:30 P. M. Address by Senator Wallace H. White, Jr., of Maine Address by Maj. Gen. Charles McK. Saltzman, Chairman, Federal Radio Commission The annual banquet will be held on Tuesday night. Detroit radio stations, through a committee headed by Leo Fitzpatrick, have arranged entertainment featuring radio stars of national reputation. Accomplishments of the association during the past year will be reviewed in the report of the managing director. This report will show that membership in the organization has increased nearly 60 Address by John Benson, President, American Association of Advertising Agencies Address by Clyde P. Steen, American Radio Association TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27 9:30 A. M. Report of the Managing Director Address by Bond P. Geddes, Executive Vice President, Radio Manufacturers Division Committee Reports Discussion 1:30 P. M. Address by Levering Tyson, Director, National Advisory Committee on Radio in Education Committee Reports (continued) Discussion 6:45 P. M. Banquet WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28 9:30 A. M. Committee Reports (continued) Discussion 11:00 A. M. (Closed Session) Report of Resolutions Committee Election of Officers Installation of Officers 3:00 P. M. Meeting of Board of Directors per cent during the current year. Much of the time of the convention will be devoted to a discussion of the perplexing commercial and legislative problems which confront the broadcasting industry. Among the subjects listed for discussion are the following: standardization of market and radio station data, cost accounting, rate maintenance, merchandising of an open time bureau or clearing house, collection and compilation of trade statistics, agency recognition, market and coverage surveys, double commissions, station representation, time brokers, music license fees contract forms, and other matters of interest to stations. ~ Declaration of a set of fundamental engineering rules applicable to broadcasting, television, synchronization, and antenna development are among the technical matters which will be discussed. Legislative perils which face the industry will be treated in the report of the legislative committee, which will point out the dangers of impending legislation. COPYRIGHT IS TOPIC EDUCATIONAL and advertising campaigns for the entire industry will be proposed at the meeting. A subject which is bound to receive considerable discussion is the copyright situation. The activities of the association in connection with the Vestal Copyright bill, which failed to pass in the last Congress, will be reviewed, and an effort is now being made to conclude the conferences between committees of the N. A. B. and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in time for a report at the Detroit meeting. Among matters of minor importance to be considered are several amendments which have been proposed to the constitution and by-laws of the association. Arrangements for the meeting are being made by E. M. Spence, Atlantic City; J. J. Storey, Worcester, Mass.; Frank M. Russell, Washington; Paul W. Morency, Hartford, Conn.; Harry C. Butcher, Washington, Leo Fitzpatrick, Detroit. Our Headquarters Throughout the course of the N. A. B. convention, BROADCASTING will maintain headquarters in Room 216, Hotel Statler. Visitors are cordially invited. Tentative Program of N. A. B. Convention Hotel Statler, Detroit, October 26, 27 and 28 October 15, 1931 • BROADCASTING Page 7